On the 17th day of the war, Duryodhana makes Karna his army-general. Before going to the battlefield, Karna takes leave of his wife Ponnuruvi who despises him because of his perceived low caste. On her request, he reveals that he is Kunti’s son and the elder brother of the Pandavas.

After coming to know that he is of royal descent, Ponnuruvi changes her mind and asks him to join the Pandavas. Karna refuses and tells her he will forever remain loyal to his friend Duryodhana, who helped him when he needed it most. Foreseeing his own death on the battlefield, he advises Ponnuruvi to join the Pandavas after the war is over. They will take care of her.

 After a tearful farewell Karna leaves for the battlefield where he is killed by Arjuna who is unaware of the fact that Karna is his half-brother. Before he dies, Krishna shows Karna his Visvarupa and promises him that he will be reborn to fulfil a final unfinished duty and to attain moksha in his next life.